Minister Pierre Arcand on mission in London | News

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Minister Pierre Arcand on mission in London

On the 22nd and 23rd of January 2018, Minister Pierre Arcand, whose responsibilities cover Government Administration and Ongoing Program Review, and who is Chair of the Conseil du trésor, led a mission to London. While in the UK’s capital, Minister Arcand met with several experts in governmental infrastructure projects. Accompanied by Mr. Yves Ouellet, président-directeur général de la Société québécoise des infrastructures, the Minister had a meeting with the Chief Executive of the Planning Inspectorate, the body responsible for ensuring the regulations are respected when major infrastructure projects are planned. The Minister also met with Mr. Matthew Vickerstaff, Vice CEO of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority, a British centre of expertise on infrastructure projects and their follow through.

Also part of the Minister’s programme was a meeting with Mr. John Manzoni, Chief Executive of the Civil Service and Permanent Secretary for the Cabinet Office. Mr. Manzoni shared with Mr. Arcand his vision of governmental infrastructure projects, as well as shared services within British administration. Mr. Arcand also went to the Houses of Parliament, where he met with MP Andrew Percy, the British Government’s Trade Envoy to Canada, as well as with Lord Purvis of Tweed, member of the parliamentary group interested in relations with Canada. The Minister used this opportunity to explain Québec’s solid economic position, and to express his wish that the British Parliament quickly ratify the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the EU.

Finally, at the Québec Government Office in London, the Minister participated in Québec AI company Element AI’s official announcement of their opening their European office in London. The members of Element AI present for the announcement were part of a delegation of Québec AI businesses and researchers who were also on mission in London, as well as Oxford and Cambridge, between the 22nd and 26th of January.